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Crafting the raft lessons for managers

Using relevant metaphors from nature it seems that self-organizing must be preceded by having a grand goal that by far supersedes individual goals. If this condition is met organization may self-organize and follow voluntarily simple rules that lead to emerging behaviors and structures.

It is great one and can add to the core values and culture of the organizations. It supported the team spirit and encourage the team work and the consideration of the global benefit of the organization. It is inspiring and meaningful. I believe you have a revolutionary thinking which I admire.

I have just read this great post in which it states 'Research conducted by Griskevicius, Tybur, and Van de Bergh (2010) suggests that followers of the eco-friendly movement may not actually be as concerned about the environment as it seems. Rather, their research suggested that pro-social behavior, where individuals put the needs of the group before personal desires, results in elevated status within the group. Thus, individuals demonstrating pro-social behavior (e.g. making environmentally sustainable choices) are viewed as trustworthy and more desirable for group participation. Further, choosing environmentally friendly items communicates to others not only that an individual is pro-social, but also that he or she can afford the more costly products'. It shows that humans may act in line with the ants model suggested in this presentation. See: http://www.personal.psu.edu/bfr3/blogs/asp/2012/02/weve-got-the-green-feveror-do-we.html

In response to few private comments and the piratical possibilities of this presentation I may add the following examples. The EC had tough discussions to agree on a common currency. Each country wanted to keep the pride of its own currency. The individual interest overwhelmed the joint interest. When the Euro currency came into existence all EC countries protect it for the grand goal has surpassed the individual country goals. See hoe the EC rushed to help Greece out of its crisis. The same with the gas line that goes from Norway to Spain. Each country has an interest in keeping the gas flow and the gas line has created a joint interest bigger than the individual interest of any country

4.
Crafting a raft<br />Fire ants avoid sinking if flooded with water by sticking to each other. The way ants do this leave “air sacs”, which keep the resulting raft floating<br />For excellent photos see this reference.<br />

5.
Motivation to form a raft<br /><ul><li>Why ants keep doing that? What prompts each ant to follow simple rules?</li></li></ul><li>Simple rules are not enough<br />Ants realize that each one is unsafe from sinking. It is only through forming a raft that they are ALL safe<br />

6.
Simple rules are not enough- 2<br />It is this realization that the grand goal of ALL ants supersedes any selfish goal that make ants follow simple rules to self-organize and form a raft<br />

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Simple rules are not enough- 3<br />Other issues become less relevant such as which ant stays at the top layer, which one rests at the bottom layer and which ones stay in the middle<br />

8.
The Grand must be greater than the individual goal<br />Survival is a grand goal<br />Individual survival of ants is NOT possible; collective survival is<br />

9.
Organizations must do the same<br />Individuals are selfish to varying degrees<br />Unless employees believe they may only float if they join hands collectively they tend to show egoism<br />

10.
Organizations must do the same- 2<br />If employees believe that that their survival is linked to collective actions they shall not abide by simple rules and will scatter efforts in all directions<br />

11.
V-formation of birds<br />Birds fly in V-formations because each bird realizes that it has to put 78% extra effort if it decides to leave the flock<br />The individual goal is less profitable than the collective goal<br />

12.
School of Fish<br />Fish swim in schools. Each fish realizes it is more risk to swim alone than in keeping with the fish school<br />It is the subdue of individual interest that make fish swim in schools and obey simple rules that lead to the emerging behavior<br />

13.
The lesson is great<br />Organizations MUST find a grand goal that keep the interest of employees above the individual interest. Without such goal following simple rules and the emerging of new behaviors and structures would not be possible<br />